Clarence Edward "Sonny" "Grandpa" Green, formerly of McCook Lake, died on Aug. 25, 2014, at his residence in Las Vegas, Nev.
Graveside services will be held on Oct. 11 in Logan Park Cemetery, Sioux City. Arrangements are under the direction of Waterbury Funeral Service of Sioux City.
Clarence was born on June 25, 1921, in Sioux City, to Charles and Bessie (Olsen) Green. He was the second of 10 children, with five brothers and four sisters. Clarence attended school in Sioux City and North Sioux City. He worked several jobs during his school days, most notably at the local ice house and as a bricklayer at the brickyards in Riverside.
Clarence married Evelyn Miller, his girlfriend since the first grade, on Nov. 1, 1941. They had two daughters, Julia and Betty. He was the best, most patient grandfather ever to his four grandchildren, Jolie Corder, Glenn Jaminet, Charles (Pat) Corder, and Paul (Tina) Jaminet.
He served in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II, stationed at Luke Air Base in Phoenix, Ariz. He provided flying by instruments training to new pilots as their first stop in flight school. After the war, Sonny and Evelyn located at McCook Lake, S.D., where they lived and raised their family. He became an auto mechanic and shop supervisor for Salzness Buick, working there loyally for nearly 40 years before retiring in 1985.
Sonny loved his family, square dancing, stock car racing and being an auto mechanic. He spent his time in combination of the four, teaching his grandchildren about cars in his garage at home, taking them along with his brother, Donnie, each week to the local stock car dirt track and many race tracks around the country. He also loved to travel with his wife, Evelyn, bringing the grandkids along while going about the country in their old GMC pickup and camper.
After the sudden death of his wife in 1998, he began spending his winters in the desert Southwest and summers at his home in McCook Lake. Crossing into his 80s brought the beginning of his next great adventure when he became great-grandpa to three beautiful girls, Carlie Michaelene, Evelyn Grace, and Amelia Faith. These three girls shared an amazing bond of love, laughter, joy and excitement with their "Gramps." During this time, he also discovered delight in riding motorcycles thanks to his very good friend, Bruce.
In the last two years of his life, he spent his time between McCook Lake, Colorado, and Las Vegas, spending time with his family, watching NASCAR and being ornery. He left so many with memories of his smile, positive attitude and laughter.
He is survived by his daughters; grandchildren; great-grandchildren; brothers, Earl (Arlene), Richard, and Robert Green; sisters-in-law, Margaret Green, Betty Pearson, Barbara (Arnold) Knecht, and Mary Ann Miller; and a brother-in-law, John Lewis.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife; and siblings, Veta, Virginia, Lorraine, June, Donald, and Harry.
Clarence, Sonny, Grandpa, and Gramps was a loving son, brother, husband, and the finest father, grandfather and great-grandfather a family could ever ask for. His passing has left a void not only in the above-mentioned lives, but also the lives of so many more.
In lieu of flowers, please remember the veteran's organizations in your area with the gift of your time or your donations.